How Do You Play Pontoon Cards
- Typically, the banker is the player giving out the cards to the other players enjoying a game of Pontoon. Each player is given two cards face up. Pontoon online is the virtual variant of Blackjack’s British cousin. It’s quite common to find the Pontoon card game at many RTG Casinos, NetEnt Casinos, Microgaming Casinos and Playtech Casinos.
- How to play the Pontoon card game? Pontoon 21 is a casino card game popular in Great Britain, the USA, Australia, and Asia. It can be played with up to 8 players, while at an online casino, a player may gamble with several hands at a time.
- Unlike most blackjack variations, Pontoon requires the player to hit on 14 – there will be no option to stand on hands under 15 and hitting is limited to five times for both the player and the dealer. The player can also double down and split the same cards, playing.
- Pontoon Strategy Number 5 – When you play pontoon online, which we recommend as opposed to land-based casinos, try to find a site which provides you with a pontoon strategy chart as part of the game interface. This will make it easy for you to follow perfect pontoon strategy and to win more often.
Pontoon card game is a British version of the traditional blackjack that is also very popular at all online and land casinos. Please note, that Australian Pontoon is most of the time the game called Spanish 21, which is different from the game we are going to describe here.
Typically, the banker is the player giving out the cards to the other players enjoying a game of Pontoon. Each player is given two cards face up. Pontoon online is the virtual variant of Blackjack’s British cousin. It’s quite common to find the Pontoon card game at many RTG Casinos, NetEnt Casinos, Microgaming Casinos and Playtech Casinos.
The aim of any player at Pontoon blackjack is to beat the dealer with a hand that does not go over 21.
The game is played with 8 decks of 52 cards. The card values do not differ from traditional blackjack (2-10 are valued as numbered, Face Cards have the value of 10, an Ace has the value of 1 or 11). Players make the bets and the dealer deals the cards. Each player is dealt two cards face up, while the dealer also gets two cards but they BOTH are face down. This is the main difference between Pontoon and traditional blackjack and according to this difference player makes a decision basing on his cards only.
Note: In some Pontoon blackjack versions dealer’s second card is dealt only after all players have played their hands, which gives a chance to hit until 21 and win even if the dealer has a Natural.
Pontoon Terms
Regular player options in Pontoon have other names than in classic blackjack.
- 'Twist' — Hit (ask for another card).
In Pontoon you are to Twist if your hand is less than 15 (unless your hand is a 5 card one). - 'Stick' — Stand (stop and ask for no more cards)
- 'Buy' — Double down, with a small difference, that favours the player:
- Player can Buy on any hand which is of 2 to 4 cards;
- Player can Twist after he Buys (not met in traditional blackjack).
- A hand of an Ace and 10-value card is a Pontoon not a blackjack.
Rules of Pontoon (how it is different from blackjack)
- Pontoon allows you to split all Ten valued cards even if it is Jack and King etc. A combination of Ace and ten even after a Split is counted as a Pontoon and pays out 2 to 1. If you split Aces you get only one card per hand and can not Draw.
- In case of a tie (dealer and a player have the equal amount) the dealer wins instead of a push.
- Any 5 card hand that does not bust is called a 'Five Card Trick' and pays 2 to 1. This hand does not beat a Pontoon but beats all the other hands.
- You can double only one time per each hand, but the hand of 2-4 cards. In a hand before doubling an Ace counts as 1 that is why players are not advised to double on soft hands.
- Dealer hits on soft 17 (Ace and 6).
- Player can surrender only if the dealer has an Ace or a Face card.
The use of perfect strategy in the game reduces house edge to 0.39%. This is so low because of a 5-card trick.
As soon as players have played their hands, dealer reveals his cards. The Pontoon is checked beforehand. In case the player has a pontoon or a 5-card trick hand, he is paid 2 to 1, other hands are paid even money, and ties lose.
In Pontoon, the more decks are used, the lower the house edge is. This is because of a 5-card trick, which becomes more possible with more decks of cards.
Make sure you checked the rules of Pontoon at the casino you have decided to play as rules may be a bit different.
Pontoon Card Game Free
To play free Pontoon at online casinos, you don’t have to do anything special. All you need is to join an online casino where Pontoon game is offered. For that simply:
- Pick any online casino of your choice
- Type the casino URL on your mobile or PC browser
- Register as player as few online casinos want you to do that.
- There is no deposit, means you don’t have to make a real money deposit at the casino
- Simply then visit games lobby, go to table games section
- Search for the game of Pontoon or Blackjack
- Click to play
Remember that free Pontoon comes with free credits to play within the game and if you win you automatically gain free money or credits or free chips to play more.
How To Play Pontoon
How to play free Pontoon at online casinos?
Pontoon takes everything you know about Blackjack and turns it upside down. In Pontoon, both dealer cards are dealt face down, so you have to make your hit/stand/split/double down decisions blindly. Because you’ve got the power to double down and win more. In Pontoon, you’re free to hit—even after you’ve doubled down. If you’ve ever hit an Ace on an 11 in Blackjack, you know that being able to hit after a double down is a double dose of amazing—and even more incredible when you play it for free at online casinos.
How Do You Play Pontoon Cards Without
Special features free Pontoon
You can double down on anything, and you’re free to hit after you’ve doubled down
- Dealer hits on a soft 17
- Hitting 21 with 5 cards pays 2:1
To play Pontoon, click on the chip value you’d like to bet. You can bet as little as the table minimum and as much as the table maximum. To add chips, just click on the chips close to the edge of the table. To remove chips from your bet, just click the top of the chip stack. Once you’re happy with your wage, click Deal. You’ll be dealt two face up cards and the dealer will be dealt two face down. You need to make your decision to hit, stand, split or double down based on absolutely zero knowledge from the dealer. While similar Blackjack rules apply, you must hit on 14 or less, the dealer must hit on a soft 17, and you’re free to hit after doubling down. Check the Pontoon rules in the game for other things you should know.
It’s easy to customize Pontoon. Click the Menu button in the game, and then click Player Options. You’ll be able to do things like adjust the SFX of the game and modify how fast the cards are being dealt. And you can keep modifying things until you’re happy, any time. Even though you can’t see the dealer’s cards you’ll love what you see when you play Pontoon. Play it for free—for as long as you like—at online casinos.
You can also download free online casino apps to gain access to the online Pontoon game, or explore entire suite of table games. Once you’ve mastered free Pontoon at online casinos you can then go for real money pontoon play.
Play free Pontoon at Rich Casino, Superior casino, Cool Casino, 7 reels casino and others.